Shoe sole

ABSTRACT

A shoe sole has a main body and at least one strip. The main body is flexible and elongated and has a through hole. The through hole is formed through the main body. The at least one strip is mounted in the through hole and is detachably connected with the main body. Flexibility of the main body is higher than that of the at least one strip. By replacing the strips having different flexibilities, the flexibility of the shoe sole is adjustable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a shoe sole, and more particularly to a shoe sole that has adjustable flexibility.

2. Description of Related Art

A conventional shoe sole is mounted on a bottom of a shoe. A conventional shoe sole, especially for shoes for riding a bicycle, is hard and the flexibility of the sole cannot be adjusted. Consequently, the sole cannot meet different needs of a user or different roads or various situations.

Accordingly, the user has to purchase multiple pairs of shoes having different flexibilities, and a purchasing cost increases. Furthermore, the multiple pairs of shoes are bulky and require large storage space.

To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention tends to provide a shoe sole to mitigate the aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main objective of the invention is to provide a shoe sole that has adjustable flexibility.

A shoe sole has a main body and at least one strip. The main body is flexible and elongated and has a through hole. The through hole is formed through the main body and is elongated. The at least one strip is mounted in the through hole and is detachably connected with the main body. Flexibility of the main body is higher than that of the at least one strip. By replacing the strips having different flexibilities, the flexibility of the shoe sole is adjustable.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective front view of a first embodiment of a shoe sole in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective rear view of the shoe sole in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective rear view of the shoe sole in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the shoe sole in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the slot of the shoe sole in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross sectional view of the shoe sole in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a front view of a second embodiment of the shoe sole in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged side view in partial section of the shoe sole in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a front view of a third embodiment of the shoe sole in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 10 is an enlarged side view in partial section of the shoe sole in FIG. 9.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, a first embodiment of a shoe sole in accordance with the present invention comprises a main body 10 and a strip 20.

The main body 10 is flexible and elongated and has a bottom surface 15, a front end 11, a rear end 12, a through hole 13 and a slot 14. The rear end 12 of the main body 10 is opposite to the front end 11 of the main body 10. The through hole 13 is elongated and is formed through the main body 10. Preferably, the through hole 13 extends toward the front end 11 and the rear end 12 of the main body 10.

With reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, the slot 14 is formed in the main body 10 and communicates with a front side of the through hole 13. The slot 14 has a cross section, a central section and a groove 141. The groove 141 is located at the central section of the slot 14 and is formed through the bottom surface 15 of the main body 10.

With reference to FIGS. 2, 3 and 6, the strip 20 is hard, is mounted in the through hole 13 and is detachably connected with the main body 10. The strip 20 has flexibility higher than that of the main body 10.

Preferably, the strip 20 is elongated and extends toward the front end 11 and the rear end 12 of the main body 10. The strip 20 has a front end, a rear end, a cross section, two opposite side surfaces, a bottom surface and a rib 21. The front end of the strip 20 is inserted into the slot 14. The rear end of the strip 20 is opposite to the front end of the strip 20 and is connected with the main body 10 by a screw.

The cross section of the strip 20 is T-shaped. The rib 21 protrudes from the bottom surface of the strip 20 and has a front end inserted into the groove 141.

A width of the strip 20 is smaller than that of the through hole 13. Two gaps G are formed between the strip 20 and the main body 10. Each gap G is located between a side surface of the strip 20 and an inner wall 131 of the through hole 13.

With reference to FIGS. 7 and 8, a second embodiment of the shoe sole in accordance with the present invention is substantially the same as the first embodiment.

The through hole 13A has a longitudinal section, a width and a length. The longitudinal section of the through hole 13A is rectangular.

The strip 20A has a longitudinal section, a width, a length, a front end and a rear end. The longitudinal section of the strip 20A is rectangular.

The width of the strip 20A is the same as that of the through hole 13A. The length of the strip 20A is longer than that of through hole 13A.

The front end of the strip 20A is connected with the main body 10A by a screw. The rear end of the strip 20A is opposite to the front end of the strip 20A and is connected with the main body 10A by a screw.

With reference to FIGS. 9 and 10, a third embodiment of the shoe sole in accordance with the present invention is substantially the same as the first embodiment.

The through hole 13 extends toward the front end 11 and the rear end 12 of the main body 10B.

The number of the at least one strip 20B is multiple, and the strips 20B are located in the through hole 13 at intervals. Each strip 20B extends toward two opposite inner walls 131B of the through hole 13 and has two opposite ends respectively connected with the main body 10B by screws.

Alternatively, the through hole 13 and the strip 20 may extend along the width of the main body 10 toward two flanks of the main body 10. The present invention does not limit the format, number, and shape of longitudinal section of the through holes 13,13A and the strip 20,20A,20B. Two opposite ends of the strip 20 may be both inserted into the main body 10 or be connected with the main body 10 by screws. The present invention does not limit the means of connection between the main body 10 and the strip 20.

From the above description, it is noted that the present invention has the following advantages:

1. Adjustable Flexibility of the Sole:

With the elongated through hole 13,13A, the sole becomes flexible and a user feels comfortable with the sole. Moreover, the at least one strip 20,20A,20B is mounted in the through hole 13,13A and is detachably connected with the main body 10,10A,10B. By replacing the strips 20,20A,20B having different flexibilities, the flexibility of the sole is adjustable to meet different needs of a user or different situations. Alternatively, the user may also mount no strip to the sole.

2. Cost Reduction:

The user only needs to purchase multiple strips 20,20A,20B having different flexibilities, and as the strip 20,20A, 20B is replaceable and small in volume, this can save purchasing costs and storage space.

3. Enhanced Structural Strength:

With the rib 21 protruding from the bottom surface of the strip 20, 20A, 20B, the strip 20,20A,20B has good structural strength.

4. Easy Replacement:

Because the groove 141 of the first embodiment is formed through the bottom surface 15 of the main body 10, the strip 20 is easily inserted into the slot 14 from the bottom surface 15 of the main body 10. Accordingly, the replacement of the strip 20 of the first embodiment is easy.

5. Good Ventilation:

The first and third embodiments of the soles have gaps G Accordingly, the soles have good ventilation and smell in the shoes can quickly escape.

Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A shoe sole comprising: a flexible and elongated main body having a front end; a rear end opposite to the front end of the main body; and an elongated through hole formed through the main body; and at least one strip mounted in the through hole and detachably connected with the main body, wherein flexibility of the main body is higher than that of the strip.
 2. The shoe sole as claimed in claim 1, wherein the through hole extends toward the front end and the rear end of the main body; and a number of the at least one strip is one, and the strip is elongated and extends toward the front end and the rear end of the main body.
 3. The shoe sole as claimed in claim 2, wherein the main body has a slot formed in the main body and communicating with a front side of the through hole; and the strip has a front end inserted into the slot; and a rear end opposite to the front end of the strip and connected with the main body by a screw.
 4. The shoe sole as claimed in claim 3, wherein the slot has a T-shaped cross section and the strip has a T-shaped cross section.
 5. The shoe sole as claimed in claim 4, wherein the slot has a central section; and a groove located at the central section of the slot and formed through a bottom surface of the main body; the strip has a bottom surface; and a rib protruding from the bottom surface of the strip and having a front end inserted into the groove.
 6. The shoe sole as claimed in claim 2, wherein a width of the strip is smaller than that of the through hole; two gaps are formed between the strip and the main body; and each gap is located between a side surface of the strip and an inner wall of the through hole.
 7. The shoe sole as claimed in claim 3, wherein a width of the strip is smaller than that of the through hole; two gaps are formed between the strip and the main body; and each gap is located between a side surface of the strip and an inner wall of the through hole.
 8. The shoe sole as claimed in claim 4, wherein a width of the strip is smaller than that of the through hole; two gaps are formed between the strip and the main body; and each gap is located between a side surface of the strip and an inner wall of the through hole.
 9. The shoe sole as claimed in claim 5, wherein a width of the strip is smaller than that of the through hole; two gaps are formed between the strip and the main body; and each gap is located between a side surface of the strip and an inner wall of the through hole.
 10. The shoe sole as claimed in claim 2, wherein the through hole has a rectangular longitudinal section; a width; and a length; and the strip has a rectangular longitudinal section; a width the same as that of the through hole; a length longer than that of the through hole; a front end connected with the main body by a screw; and a rear end opposite to the front end of the strip and connected with the main body by a screw.
 11. The shoe sole as claimed in claim 1, wherein the through hole extends toward the front end and the rear end of the main body; a number of the at least one strip is multiple, and the strips are located in the through hole at intervals; and each strip extends toward two opposite inner walls of the through hole and has two opposite ends respectively connected with the main body by screws. 